Arsenal will kick off tonight’s Champions League tie against Bayern Munich without some of their most loyal supporters.

A number of season ticket holders will miss the game at the Emirates Stadium after turning down the opportunity to fork out as much as £132 for their regular seat.

To add insult to injury, the German champions have subsidised the price of their fans’ tickets, meaning that Bayern fans will only pay about £40 for a seat at the fixture.

Season ticket prices at the Emirates are higher than any other club in world football at £1,470 – working out at over £56 per game.

Some season ticket holders pay about £2,000 for their seat at the ground.

The club has charged “gold members” – standard season ticket holders – between £62 and £132 for the game, but all home cup games so far this season have been available to them free of charge as part of the season ticket cost.

Despite many season ticket holders opting out, the game is still set to be a sell out.

Paul Matz, a spokesman for the Arsenal Independent Supporters Association, who has paid for his seat at the game, said: “Most people are aware they only pay for 26 games and this is the 27th game.

“However, we would argue that the club should share the benefits of success by making it free for season ticket holders.

“A lot of people feel they should have charged only an average price rather than the top price.”

Mr Matz said that the atmosphere on the night would not be adversely affected by some regulars refusing to attend.

“You can’t suggest that fans who are not season ticket holders will not create as good an atmosphere as those who attend every week.

“It’s one of the biggest games of the season and it will be electric.”

An Arsenal spokesman, said: “The match is a complete sell out and we are all looking forward to a big night of Champions League football.

“We know that there will be a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium and ask supporters to get to the ground early to take part in a card display to greet the teams.”